Miami Valley Medical Staff Wellness Committee to Host Wellness Run

By Jennifer Hartsock-Vandine, MD, associate program medical director, Miami Valley Hospitalist Group

The Miami Valley Medical Staff Wellness Committee is pleased to announce our first wellness run, which we plan to have annually for years to come. Formed in the last year, our committee is dedicated to improving the quality of life, and physical and mental health of our staff. On a day-to-day basis, all of us working in health care lead busy and stressful lives. Figuring out a balance between our jobs and personal lives can be really hard. We are constantly being pulled in many directions at once, and that imbalance can lead to burnout.

With burnout rates increasing across all physician specialties, we are striving to implement new programs, events, and ideas to promote a culture of wellness within Premier Health. With that in mind, we are organizing this inaugural race. At 8:30 am on April 21, 2018, we will hold our first run at Island MetroPark. The event will feature 5k and 10k courses running along the scenic Stillwater River on the bike path. It will also feature a free kids’ 1-mile fun “fun run” through the park beginning at 9:30 am Participation is open to all Premier Health staff members, as well as the general public.

You may know that I personally have been working to find balance in my own life between work and my physical and mental health. Focusing on exercise as a component of my overall wellness has helped me reduce stress, and be happier, healthier, and more productive and engaged in my day-to-day life. Training for my first 5k is what motivated me to take up running and has led to me now training for my first half marathon.

Participating in community events such as races can be a great way to improve your exercise capacity and overall fitness. Even if you start off as a couch potato, having a well-defined target such as a 5k distance can be a great motivator. Training for a race can help you build endurance, stay accountable, and stick to your goals. Additionally, training with family and friends – and running among people on race day – is a great way to bond with others and feel part of something larger than yourself. We hope you will join us, and look forward to seeing you on race day!

Registration information can be found online. 

Back to the February 2018 issue of Premier Pulse